Drive-On Pallet

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a pallet that includes a carriage rest and a ramp. The pallet can include one or more running boards and can comprise a wheel chock. The disclosed pallets can include a bump stop to prevent equipment from rolling out of position. The disclosed pallets can also include supports and tiedown buckles. The disclosed pallets are useful to allow easy vertical storage of equipment, particularly rolling equipment.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to the field of warehouse storage technology.

BACKGROUND

Pallets have been used to transport and store materials since containerization became a primary method of transporting material. Pallets can come in a range of styles but are typically flat surfaces supported by supports. The most common pallets are made of wood.

Warehousing of materials requires large facilities with massive footprints. The average warehouse is about 16,400 square feet (see www at cisco-eagle.com/industries-served/order-fulfillment/the-typical-warehouse). However, many warehouses have a large space from the floor to the ceiling where much of the space cannot be used to store certain products due to limitations of the pallet technology. In particular, pallets cannot be stored effectively vertically, especially mobile equipment such as pallet jacks.

There is need for pallets that allow for vertical storage of equipment such as mobile equipment.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are pallets that allow vertical storage of mobile equipment and other types of material that can roll. Such pallets can have a mechanism to prevent rolling equipment from falling off of the pallet. The pallets disclosed herein also can comprise ramp structure to allow the equipment to be easily transported onto the pallet. The disclosed pallets may also comprise mechanisms to secure the equipment to the pallet

Aspects disclosed herein comprise a pallet that includes a ramp. As used herein, the term “a” means one or more unless specifically defined otherwise. In these aspects, the pallet comprises a ramp, carriage rest, one or more supports, and one or more running boards.

In certain embodiments, the pallet further comprises a wheel chock.

In some embodiments, the pallet further comprises a bump stop.

In other embodiments, the pallet comprises two outside running boards and two inside running boards. In still other embodiments, the two inside running boards comprise a depression.

In more embodiments, the two inside running boards comprise a wheel chock located within the depression. In further embodiments, the bump stop is located on the opposite end of the ramp.

In particular embodiments, the bump stop is composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials. In more particular embodiments, the wheel chock is composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials. In still more particular embodiments, the ramp and carriage rest are composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials.

In certain embodiments, the pallet comprises three supports. In other embodiments, the supports are rectangular and about one foot wide.

In further embodiments, the one or more running boards are spaced to allow the pallet to be transport by a pallet jack. In yet further embodiments, the carriage rest is connected to the ramp. In still further embodiments, the wheel chock is distal to the ramp and proximal to the bump stop and the carriage rest.

In certain embodiments, the carriage rest is connected to the ramp. In more embodiments, the wheel chock is distal to the ramp and proximal to the bump stop and the carriage rest. In particular embodiments, the pallet further comprises one or more tiedown buckles. In more particular embodiments, the one or more tiedown buckles comprise are located on one or more outside running boards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a 3D isometric view of an embodiment of the pallet;

FIG. 2a is a side view of an outside running board of the pallet;

FIG. 2b is a side view of an inside running board of the pallet;

FIG. 2c is a side view of an outside running board of the pallet in combination with ramp, supports, carriage rest, and bump stop;

FIG. 2d is a top view of of the pallet in combination with ramp, supports, carriage rest, wheel chock, and bump stop;

FIG. 2e is a front view of the pallet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein are pallet structures that allow for vertical storage of equipment such as rolling equipment. These pallets allow for such equipment to be rolled onto the surface of the pallet into the proper position and to be secured in the proper position.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the pallets disclosed herein. The pallet 10 comprises a ramp 1 that allows equipment such as a pallet jack to be rolled onto the pallet without requiring lifting. The ramp 1 can be at an angle where the equipment to be moved onto the flat area of the pallet—the carriage rest 2. The carriage rest 2 and the ramp 1 are supported by outside running boards 6 and 9 and inside running boards 7 and 8. The pallet 10 can include additional supports to increase the weight that the pallet 10 can support. Further the outside running boards 6 and 9 and inside running boards 7 and 8 can be any width to increase the strength of the pallet 10.

The pallet 10 comprises a bump stop 4 that prevents equipment from rolling off of the pallet 10. The bump stop 4 is positioned at an end opposite of the ramp 1. As equipment is wheeled onto the pallet 10, the bump stop 4 will stop the wheel of the equipment from moving beyond the bump stop 4. In this embodiment, the bump stop 4, like the rest of pallet 10, is wood. The bump stop 4 further is two wood pieces stacked to increase the height of the bump stop 4. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the bump stop 4 can be a single piece and of varying heights depending on the equipment to be stored. The bump stop 4 can be on the same level as the carriage rest 2, while being elevated above a depression 11 where one or more wheel chocks 3 are located. The one or more wheel chocks 3 are configured to allow the wheel to rest in the wheel chocks 3.

FIG. 1 also shows tiedown buckles 5. The tiedown buckles 5 are part of outside running boards 6 and 9. The tiedown buckles 5 are configured to allow for tiedowns, ropes, chains, or other securing devices to be tied to the tiedown buckles 5.

FIGS. 2a-2e shows side views of the outside running boards and inside running boards. FIG. 2a shows a side view of an outside running board 9. The outside running board 9 comprises a trapezoidal shape. The outside running board 9 has a rectangular area 13 and an sloped area 14. The sloped area 14 corresponds to the ramp 1 from FIG. 1 and acts to support the ramp 1. The outside running board 9 can be of any length and the slope of any pitch so long as the pallet 10 performs its function to allow for equipment to be rolled onto the pallet 10 and to be stored.

FIG. 2b shows an inside running board 8. The inside running board 8 has a rectangular area 16 and a sloped area 17. In this embodiment, the inside running board 8 has a depression 18 proximal to a rectangular area 16. The depression 18 comprises a first slope 19 that slopes toward a flat area 20. Distal to the first slope 19 is a second slope 21 that slopes toward the flat area 20. Accordingly, the first slope 19 and the second slope 21 are opposingly angled toward the flat area 20.

FIG. 2c shows the outside running board 9 in FIG. 2a with ramp 1, carriage rest 2, bump stop 4, and one of the tiedown buckles 5. This embodiment also shows supports 22, 23, and 24 running perpendicularly to outside running board 9. The supports 22, 23, and 24 are rectangular in this embodiment. The supports 22, 23, and 24 may be of different thicknesses so long as the thickness of the supports 22, 23, and 24 does not prevent loading of the pallet.

FIG. 2d shows a top view of the pallet 10 with outside running boards 6 and 9, which make up tiedown buckles 5, along with ramp 1, carriage rest 2, bump stop 4, and wheel chock 3. The wheel chock 3 rests in depression 11. Depression 11 comprises a first slope 19 that slopes toward a flat area 20. Distal to the first slope 19 is a second slope 21 that slopes toward the flat area 20.

The components of the pallets disclosed herein can be composed of wood, metal, composites, synthetic materials, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials. The bump stop can be composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials. The ramp can be composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials. The carriage rest can be composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials. The supports can be composed of wood or metal. The outside running board and inside running board can be composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials. The wheel chock can be composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials.

FIG. 2e shows the front of the pallet 10. As can be seen, the pallet 10 comprises outside running boards 30 and 33 and inside running boards 31 and 32. Support 34 is shown positioned beneath outside running boards 30 and 33 and inside running boards 31 and 32. Bump stop 35 is positioned above outside running boards 30 and 33 and inside running boards 31 and 32. In this embodiment, bump stop support 36 is positioned under bump stop 35 and over outside running boards 30 and 33 and inside running boards 31 and 32. Wheel chock 37 is positioned on the inside running boards 31 and 32. The pallet 10 also defines a first space 38 and a second space 39 for the pallet to be lifted by forklifts or moved by pallet jacks.

Although the invention has been described by reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but that it has the full scope defined by the language of the following claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A pallet comprising a ramp, carriage rest, one or more supports, and one or more running boards.
 2. The pallet of claim 1 further comprising a wheel chock.
 3. The pallet of claim 1 further comprising a bump stop.
 4. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the pallet comprises two outside running boards and two inside running boards.
 5. The pallet of claim 4, wherein the two inside running boards comprise a depression.
 6. The pallet of claim 5, wherein the two inside running boards comprise a wheel chock located within the depression.
 7. The pallet of claim 3, wherein the bump stop is located on the opposite end of the ramp.
 8. The pallet of claim 3, wherein the bump stop is composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials.
 9. The pallet of claim 2, wherein the wheel chock is composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials.
 10. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the ramp and carriage rest are composed of wood, metal, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic, or a combination of these materials.
 11. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the pallet comprises three supports.
 12. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the supports are rectangular and about one foot wide.
 13. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the one or more running boards are spaced to allow the pallet to be transport by a pallet jack.
 14. The pallet of claim 1, wherein the carriage rest is connected to the ramp.
 15. The pallet of claim 2, wherein the wheel chock is distal to the ramp and proximal to the bump stop and the carriage rest.
 16. The pallet of claim 1 further comprises one or more tiedown buckles.
 17. The pallet of claim 16, wherein the one or more tiedown buckles comprise are located on one or more outside running boards. 